Magnus Carlsen vs. The World Analysis

Here is my analysis of the game that took place yesterday between the world’s best chess player, Magnus Carlsen, and “The World” which consisted of 3 GMs suggesting moves and the general public voting on the moves played. Hope you enjoy going over the game as much as I did analyzing it.

GM Magnus Carlsen (2826) vs. The World

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.0-0 e5 A bold choice.

[A good alternative is 7…Bf5 8.d5 Na5 =]

8.d5 Ne7 9.e4 c6

[A stronger idea is 9.Nd7 10.Ne1 f5 +=]

10.a4 Bg4 11.a5 cxd5 12.cxd5 Qd7 Developing for development’s sake; not a good idea.

[12…b5 The World needs to be more aggressive and claim space lest he be rolled off the board 13.axb6 Qxb6 14.Qd3 +=]

13.Be3 Carlsen has an active position Rfc8

[13…Nxe4 had to be tried 14.Nxe4 f5 15.Neg5 +/-]

14.Qa4 Ne8 15.Nd2 Qd8 16.Qb4 Nc7 Hoping the world’s number 1 player will play 17.Qxb7?? Rb8.

[Better is 16…Rcb8 17.Nc4 +/-]

17.Nc4

[17.h3!? Bd7 18.Qxd6 Ne8 +- looks even better]

17…Na6 +/- 18. Qxb7 Rxc4 19.Qxa6 Rb4 20.f3 Bc8 21.Qe2 f5 22.Qd2 Ba6 23.Rfc1 Qb8 24.Na4 Rb3 25.Rc3 Rb4 26.Rca3 f4 27.Bf2 Bh6

[27…fxg3!? is better 28.hxg3 Rb3 +-]

28.Nb6 fxg3 29.Qxb4 gxf2+ 30.Kxf2 Bc8? The World crumbles from the pressure.

[30…Bf4 offers more resistance. 31.Bh3 Bc8 32.Be6+ Kg7 +-]

31.Rb3 axb6 32.Qxb6 Qa7 33.a6 Kf7 34.Qxa7 Rxa7 35.Rb6 Ke8 36.Rxd6 Bf8

[36…Bg5 does not save the day 37.Bf1 Bd7 38.Rb6 +-]

37.Rb6 Nxd5 38.Rb8 Bc5+ 39.Kg3 Ne7 40.Bh3 Kd8

[40…Bd6 the only chance to get some counter play 41.Rxc8+ Nxc8 42.Bxc8 Bc5 +-]

41.Bxc8 Nxc8 42.Rc1 Rc7

[42…Be3 is not much help 43.Rcxc8+ Kd7 44.Rd8+ Ke7 45.Re8+ Kd7 46.Rxe5 Rxa6 47.Rb7+ Kd6 48.Rd5+ Ke6 49.Rxh7 +-]

43.Rxc5! the final blow Rxc5 44.a7 Black resigns.

[44.a7 Ra5 45.a8=Q Rxa8 46.Rxa8 +-]